The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 37 216 engine noise

Have been trying to chase down a noise that has been annoying me of late
I have adjusted the valves but am starting to doubt that i jave it right
Went for a 10 mile run today and the noise seemed worse
This is what it sounded like
http://s1260.photobucket.com/user/37Chev/media/Truck/20160619_090923_zpsctpt52o7.mp4.htmlc

"sorry page does not exist" sez PB

Sorry try this
http://s1260.photobucket.com/user/37Chev/media/Truck/20160619_090923_zpsctpt52o7.mp4.html

Sounds like valve train to me.

Have you refaced the rockers? Without doing that you can get a very poor adjustment.

Was the engine rebuilt? I recall having a similar sounding problem some years ago. It took awhile to figure out that the rebuilder, a previous owner, had used the incorrect rocker arms and had even installed those incorrectly. Being a neophyte to the hobby, I learned the hard way, parts between different production years of the "same" engine, in my case also a 216, are not necessarily interchangeable. This '39 version, as I recall, had rockers from an early '50's 216. Oddly, the engine seemed to run just fine and without my having heard the valve clatter previously until one morning on a road trip. A seasoned mechanic buddy of mine helped solve the mystery and sort the mess out.

Hi
I took apart the rocker assembly over Christmas, cleaned and reassembled carefully noting the position of each part
In an effort to trace the noise took apart again and refaced the rockers which were pretty good any way
Although this is an original engine I believe it has had work done on it by po
The noise comes from the top around the location of 3 & 4 intake valves

For a while I thought it was some thing tapping on the valve cover, I took of the valve cover and there did seem to be some old denting in that area
I tapped it out a bit but no change

Now Im thinking that because the noise got louder when fully warmed up that perhaps I may have the valves too tight?

Push rods seem all good
Only other recent modification Pertronix ignighter

What technique did you use to set valve lash?

What gap settings (exhaust valves & intake valves)?

Hi Tim

I adjust the valves as described http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/valveadjustment.htm
Intake 7 Exhaust 13
Cold
Did it again hot didn't seem to make much difference

Im not too worried if the noise is just valve noise but it sounded more like a sharp clack sound as per video

It may be worthwhile to double check casting numbers of the rocker arms, Rocker arm shaft stands, and any other engine parts numbers readily observable against numbers shown in a Master Parts Catalog. That was ultimately how the mismatched year parts issue was discovered during my learning experience.

Sounds like valve train noise and for a 216 it doesn't sound too bad....
My 216 was way worse than that before I resurfaced the rocker tips. Now when cold it's nearly as quiet as a hydraulic lifter 235 but sounds much like your video when warmed up.
I figure heat expansion widens up all those moving tolerances between the rockers and shaft and nothing short of a totally rebuilt to spec rocker arm and shaft assembly will keep it as quiet when hot. IN chasing the "tapping" I played around with differing valve adjustments and also found out that there was little to any difference in gap between cold and hot. So I can live with it.

You may have the same issue. You might check all the push rods for straightness and see if any rockers have any wobble on the shaft.
Good luck

Thanks Volfandt

I would run the engine and use a smaller feeler gauge (say .005") to slip in the gap , listen for the clacking to go away , adjust that rocker.
Adjusting them while running does tend to munch the feeler a bit
That's how I do it .

Thanks Dusty

Nice to talk to a fellow New Zealander on Stove bolt

Hi Den, very nice '37 you have , I listened to the sound again and I suspect it is only one rocker making most of that noise . The background sewing machine sound is good

Have you seen these guys ?

https://www.facebook.com/AllAmericanTruckClub/?fref=ts

I am working on joining the January trip.

Hi Dusty

I'm on the mail list for the all American Truck Club but not quite ready to do the trips of several 1000 km

Good luck with the January Trip

Denis